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Too Many College Graduates?
The AP reports on a growing sense among policy wonks that too many Americans are going to four-year colleges, to the detriment of society as a whole: "The more money states spend on higher education, the less the economy grows." "The notion that a four-year degree is essential for real success is being challenged by a growing number of economists, policy analysts, and academics. They say more Americans should consider other options, such as technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades. As evidence, experts cite rising student debt, stagnant graduation rates, and a struggling job market flooded with overqualified degree-holders. ... The average student debt load in 2008 was $23,200 — a nearly $5,000 increase over five years. Two-thirds of students graduating from four-year schools owe money on student loans. ... [A university economist said,] 'If people want to go out and get a master's degree in history and then cut down trees for a living, that's fine. But I don't think the public should be subsidizing it.'"
If people want to go out and cut down Taliban and then get a master's degree in history that's fine. But I don't think the public should be subsidizing it.
... more uneducated people. Because this country is just too damn smart. We need to dumb it down a little...
"technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades."
Telling Americans to do something because Europe's been doing it is a lot like telling a 5-year-old not to go near the cookie jar.
I have a high school diploma from over 20 years ago. I have never had any other degrees, certifications, or any other form of expensive piece of paper that promises for me that I'm not incompetent.
So I've had to rely on you know... actually working in order to show my competency.
I make now a comparatively enormous amount of money doing a job that's also done by two collegues; both of whom have PhDs. The qualifications for the job are a graduate degree in the field or a closely related one, OR equivalent experience.
I've got the equivalent experience, evidently.
So yes, it is indeed possible to do pretty much what you want without any sort of degree at all (the usual academic exceptions apply here), but the caveat is that you have to actually do a lot of work. And that's the trick, see? The WORK part is the part that a lot of people tend to shy away from. That, and the patience part.
It works in my favor though, and in the favor of anyone willing to do their ten-thousand-hours-to-expert bit. Enough people are unwilling to put in any kind of meaningful work in order to get any sort of meaningful result that I seem to have become a commodity. So don't everyone suddenly get motivated, I'm not retiring for another 20 years at least.
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>>>He said that there should be limits on how much education the Government will subsidize.
Precisely. Nobody funded my college degree. It was funded by my dad working long hours in the factory, and then I paid him back later. We did not receive one single penny from government.
Neither should people go study History or Sports Science, only to become tree cutters or walmart employees. The government should not fund this waste, and if it does, it should be tied to the expectation of results (like the ROTC). If you don't use your Pointless degree, then you must repay the money spent.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
yea, but I'd rather have get sick from too many cookies than say things like "mumsies" and "sour stomach".
Thanks professor, now get back to cutting those trees!
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
I worry about sending too many kids to college because I doubt it will actually improve their critical faculties. Republicans are worried about sending too many kids to college because they worry that it might improve their critical faculties.
I see you're familiar with British cooking.
so...learn how to a job, but under no circumstances enrich yourself via the social sciences, the arts, the sciences, and the humanities...fantastic recipe for success.
and as for the whole "as long as i don't have to pay for it" thing - selfish, pig-headed thinking. people should share burdens, not try to pawn them off on others.
I would mod you troll if I had points. Not because I take offense at the notion that Europeans could be better at something, but because you never actually bring up any examples/evidence. Your argument is basically "Europe is better because Europe is better and America sucks because America sucks." Examples of specific areas in which European systems are more desirable/equitable/profitable would have gone a long way toward making you less annoying.
I was thinking to myself, "geez, what a geezer", till I did the math on my HS Diploma (I graduated almost 23 years ago). Now I don't think you're such a geezer. ;-)
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good